“In Russia, internet meme creates YOU!” Ever wonder where that common reversal came from? It was Yakov Smirnoff, the Russian comic who rose to stardom during the eighties, when we really needed a caricature of a Russian person so we’d have an easier time bombing them if the Cold War became a real war.

Check out these clips of Yakov’s standup, and a few other appearances. He’s kind of goofy, but whatever. Now you know. Also, he has his own theatre in Branson, Missouri and he teaches classes on comedy at a nearby college. He probably makes more money than I’ll ever make, and all he had to do was sell out his heritage. Sign me up!

And years later, you can see the marked improvement in Yakov’s writing abilities…